Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree fully with Senator McGahon in respect of YouTube. I was listening to Senator Seery Kearney's contribution regarding the Joint Committee on Disability Matters and the participation of people with disabilities in politics. As one of the very few people with a disability who is in active politics and has been elected, I could write a book about it and maybe I will write a book about some of the challenges and harassment of people in politics that exists to a large extent but that is for another day.

The eye clinic liaison officer position in Temple Street Children's University Hospital has resulted in a 70% increase in referrals to step-down services for children diagnosed with sight loss. I want to see an eye clinic liaison officer appointed to each hospital group in this country. For somebody diagnosed with sight loss, it is a very distressing and traumatic experience. Some consultants and eye care specialists are brilliant at referring people to step-down services while others are not so good but an eye clinic liaison officer is the conduit between the consultants and step-down services. The eye clinic liaison officer is the person with the expertise. It is a system that has worked enormously well, particularly in the UK. For an investment of about €700,000, if an eye clinic liaison officer was appointed to each hospital group, it would create much better and more equal access to step-down services.

As we enter a period where things are opening up, there is an issue with people with disabilities and their personal assistants attending events with them. If somebody who requires a personal assistant to help him or her goes to a concert, it is reasonable that the personal assistant be allowed to get into the concert or event for free because he or she is essential for the individual with the disability to be able to go and enjoy the experience. This needs to be looked at. We may need to examine whether legislation is required to mandate organisations to allow the personal assistants of people with disabilities to attend events with them.